How to Make a Lasting First Impression | Wedding Stationery Guide: Envelopes, Part I

Chances are you have never given much thought to envelopes. While they’re not the main focus of your wedding stationery suite, envelopes are the first thing your guests see when the invitation arrives. You want to make your first impression a lasting impression, so a boring non-descript envelope is not going to cut it. Think about the envelopes in the stack of junk mail that generally fills your mailbox. Shiny and slick, long and skinny, these envelopes are no more special than the “special offers” they claim to contain.

Now picture this: as you sort your mail, a blush pink envelope sticks out from the stack. It’s subtly textured and surprisingly heavy. The front of the envelope features the most exquisite script you’ve ever seen, and the corner is adorned with the sweetest collage of vintage postage stamps. You flip it around to open it and run your fingers over the letterpress address printed on the back flap.

And this is precisely the reason I love spending a little extra time considering your envelopes. Your guests haven’t even seen the invitation yet, but they are already anticipating something exceptional. Your invitations set the stage for your entire wedding day, and the envelope is the opening act.

Envelope calligraphy by Made by Meer

This installment of the Wedding Stationery Guide is all about envelopes, specifically the sizes and colors offered at Banter & Charm. In the next installment of the series, I’ll cover more ways to can dress up your envelope, like liners, wax seals, and address printing.

Blank envelopes are included with all wedding invitation orders: a single outer mailing envelope (A7 size) and a smaller envelope for the response card (4bar size). If you’re planning a more traditional wedding, the more formal inner/outer envelope set is also available (more on that later).

Two shades of white are available for Banter & Charm’s house envelopes: Fluorescent White (a crisp, brilliant white that glows) or Pearl White (a warmer, natural hue with warm undertones). These cotton envelopes coordinate with the shades of white house papers I offer.

If your envelopes or invitations will feature letterpress or foil stamping, we can use a pointed flap envelope (shown below on the right). This classic style is perfect for formal weddings, and is available as a single outer envelope, an inner/outer set, and as a reply card envelope.

Euro flap envelopes in a rainbow of gorgeous on-trend colors, like blush pink, rich navy, and dusty blue, are also available. The euro envelope features a deep flap with a rounded point for a sophisticated look (shown above on the left). Euro flap colored envelopes come in a single outer envelope and the reply card envelope. Select shades are also available as an inner/outer set.

Looking to add more color to your stationery suite? Add in shades of blue by choosing contrasting mailing envelope and reply envelope colors. (Yes! You can mix and match envelope colors!)

A few more considerations when choosing an envelope color:
How will you address the envelopes? If you choose a light color, almost anything goes. Calligraphy, flat printing, letterpress, or write them by hand. If you choose a dark envelope color (think black, navy, wine, crimson, pine, and eggplant), you’ll need to think creatively for the addressing. Calligraphy is my first recommendation for colored envelopes: you can use a white or metallic ink (like gold or silver). Pair hand calligraphed guest addresses with a foil stamped return address for a stunning look.

I also offer a specialty printing method just for envelopes that allows white ink to be printed on these darker shades. This method also allows us to coordinate the envelope to your invitation suite: by printing a few embellishments and matching the fonts, your envelopes will be the perfect sneak peek of the stationery inside.

Looking for a way to add a metallic gold or silver to your color palette? These shimmer envelopes are an elegant way to add some sparkle to your invitation suite. Shimmer envelopes are available in variety of colors. They have a euro flap and are available in A7 and 4bar sizes.

Samples of Banter & Charm’s house envelopes options are included in each invitation sample pack. Looking for a specific color? Please get in touch and I’ll gladly provide guidance and personalized advice!